Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2017: Sagan best in sprint of five, title defender Stuyven second

At 200 kilometres, the 2017 edition of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne takes in twelve Flemish hills, yet the last 50 kilometres are pan flat. Sagan, Rowe, Trentin, Benoot and title defender battle it out in the finale with the World Champion fastest. (Slideshow route/profile)

Race report Alexis Gougeard is one of the most active riders in the first hour, that’s played out at 48,5 km/h. After 65 kms the 23-yo Frenchman goes on the attack once more, this time with Roelandts, Duchesne and Van Ginniken, while Kirsch and Boivin bridge over. Farazijn, Boucher and Cordeel chase them down and the gap of the nine leaders balloons to 6 minutes.

At the Oude Kwaremont Stybar accelerates with Küng and Benoot on his wheel. A group of around twenty riders hooks up, with among others Rowe, Stannard, Van Avermaet, Démare, Benoot, Trentin, Stuyven and Sagan. At kilometre 170, they catch the front group, where Boucher, Cordeel and Boivin have been dropped.

At that instant, the peloton – with Kristoff, Bouhanni, Coquard and Groenewegen – is chasing at half a minute.

To hold the chasers off Jasper Stuyven goes on the attack with 28 kms remaining. Peter Sagan and Matteo Trentin join him, while Tiesj Benoot and Luke Rowe also hook up. The five leaders cooperate well and the chances for both their former companions and the peloton melt away.

Peter Sagan is in a class of his own when the race boils down to a bunch sprint, thus taking his first Classic win in 2017.